MU Players annouce show dates for One Acts 2025.
@PLAYERSMU / INSTAGRAM
Emmanouel Sofillas, Managing Editor
In an exciting celebration of student artistry, Manhattan University’s Players brought energy, humor and emotion to the Smith Auditorium stage during their annual One Acts event. The event featured a collection of short plays directed, written and performed entirely by students, showcasing their creative range and collaborative spirit.
This year’s festival drew an enthusiastic audience, eager to witness the fresh stories and inventive performances. From romantic comedies and satirical parodies to emotional dramas, each play demonstrated the students’ ability to tell compelling stories in compact timeframes. The festival also provided a platform for new voices, first-time actors and budding directors to experiment and grow their theatrical talents.
Freshman English major Mary Calder made her debut in the festival, playing Carly, a recently divorced woman navigating post-breakup emotions in a story that balanced humor and vulnerability.
“She’s a fun character to play,” Calder said. “There’s a balance between frustration, anger, and hope. She’s trying to move on and rediscover herself, which is something I think a lot of people relate to.”
For Calder, the transition from rehearsing in the Black Box Theater to performing on the main stage in Smith Auditorium was one of the most significant challenges.
“We rehearsed in the box, and then had to refigure everything when we moved into Smith,” Calder said. “It’s a whole different space, and you can’t get too attached to anything during rehearsal. Things constantly change, and you have to be adaptable.”
Despite the obstacles, Calder found the experience fulfilling.
“Being in front of an audience is just a whole other level,” Calder said. “There’s so much gratification in finally performing what you’ve been working on for weeks.”
Junior computer science major Vanessa Goncalves also experienced her first MU Players production, stepping into the role of Jane, a devoted wife facing a sudden emotional crisis during a chaotic game show. Jane, the only character in the play who never lies, finds her world turned upside down when her husband reveals he is gay.
“She’s so loving and professional, and I relate to her in some ways,” Goncalves said. “She’s bubbly and wants to see the best in people. But playing her also challenged me to be more emotionally reactive on stage.”
Goncalves admitted that memorization was a hurdle at first, but the support of her fellow castmates helped her succeed.
“We got really close, and running lines together made a huge difference,” Goncalves said. “Sometimes I’d get so excited, I’d jump ahead to my favorite lines, and we’d have to improvise our way back. That teamwork really brought us together.”
Behind the scenes, the festival was orchestrated by James Cullen, a junior marketing major who served as the production’s overseer. Cullen coordinated the logistics of each show—from rehearsal space and scheduling to technical support—ensuring the smooth execution of all performances.
“Every piece is directed by a student,” Cullen said. “My role was to make sure those directors had what they needed. I organized the rehearsal spaces, helped with scheduling, and handled any issues that came up during tech week.”
Cullen also contributed as a writer and actor, appearing in his self-written play “Management 401” and penning the closing act, “Inconvenient Truth”.
“I love being in the room when it all comes together,” Cullen said. “It’s such a creative high. And acting in the shows I wrote? That was really special.”
One of Cullen’s favorite acts in the festival was “Calico”, which he praised for its originality.
“It was so creative,” Cullen said. “Everyone really brought their best to the table.”
The influx of participants this year was a welcome surprise for the directing team, including sophomore childhood education major Grace Coutu, who co-directed “Unquestionable Evil” with Juliana Virdone.
“This was my first time directing for Players,” Coutu said. “We actually became directors after submitting a pitch. We outlined what we needed, our vision, and the story we wanted to tell. The whole process was a learning experience.”
Coutu noted that casting was one of the most difficult parts.
“There were so many talented people who auditioned this year,” Coutu said. “We’re hoping next year we can find a role for everyone. One Acts is such a great opportunity, especially since it’s entirely student-run.”
According to Coutu, working alongside Cullen made the experience even smoother.
“James made a lot of this possible,” Coutu said. “He put together the rehearsal schedule, helped us stay organized, and really supported the vision each director had for their piece.”
For Coutu, the most rewarding part was working closely with the actors.
“I’m usually the one on stage,” Coutu said. “Seeing the process from the other side was really eye-opening. Watching actors bring our vision to life was incredibly rewarding.”
Senior sound studies major Lochlan Reeder brought a dose of dark comedy to the festival with his performance in “Unquestionable Evil”, a Frankenstein-style parody involving an undead cat.
“I just love the moment when I pull the cat prop out of the carrier,” Reeder said. “It always gets a reaction.”
In the festival, Reeder played two drastically different roles, including one character who constantly cheats on his wife.
“It was definitely a challenge to play someone so awful,” Reeder said. “It pushed me to explore a side of performance I haven’t done before. You really have to embrace the darkness of that character.”
As the final applause echoed through Smith Auditorium, the cast and crew were already looking ahead to next year’s festival.
“There’s so much talent at this school,” Cullen said. “Next year, I’d love to see more people in the audience and even more involvement. We’re building something really special here.”